If you’re unsure whether your Delray Beach house has poor indoor air quality (IAQ), it likely does.
We spend a lot of time inside. In fact, we’re in a building up to 90% of the time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. And the air inside houses may be 2–5 times more contaminated than outdoors, which may result in long-term health issues.
Most Common Causes of Bad IAQ
We’ve made a list of the most ordinary origins of bad IAQ, the issues they cause and how you can fix these indoor air pollutants. If you’re worried about the air inside your residence, we suggest talking with a pro like Kilbourne Heating & AC about which options are best for your family.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are vapors emitted from everyday household things.
They’re found in paint and stains along with:
- Furniture
- Carpet
- Building materials
- Cleaning products
- Cosmetics
- Air fresheners
- Candles
When these chemicals build up inside, they might irritate your eyes, nose and throat. They can also result in headaches and nausea. Regardless of whether your home is in a rural or industrial location, an EPA study found indoor levels of these chemicals can be 2–5 times greater than the air outside your home.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when painting or cleaning. Opening a window can help chemicals disappear more quickly.
Air purification systems can also make it better. This equipment partners with your heating and cooling equipment to improve indoor air. When looking for one, ensure it’s specifically made to eliminate VOCs.
Dust and Pet Dander
Dust and pet dander can aggravate health problems like asthma and allergies, especially when it constantly gets redistributed by your home’s heating and cooling unit. While you can vacuum more routinely and install an enhanced air filter, an air filtration system might be a better solution.
This solution hooks to your HVAC unit to give mighty filtration. Some models have hospital-grade filtration for eliminating particles and bioaerosols.
Persistent Odors
New houses are securely sealed to boost energy efficiency. While this is fantastic for your heating and cooling bill, it’s not ideal for your IAQ.
Stale odors can stay around for an extended amount of time because your house is pulling in reduced fresh air. As keeping your windows open all the time isn’t doable, here are two ways you can make your indoor air smell fresher.
An air purification system is placed in your HVAC system to wipe out odors before they are redistributed. Look for one with a carbon filter and the ability to wipe out damaging VOCs. These units can also help keep your family healthy by getting rid of most bacteria and normal allergy triggers like pollen and mold spores.
A ventilation system removes musty indoor air and exchanges it with fresh outdoor air. There are two models of equipment (heat recovery and energy recovery), so check with our professionals for more info on which kind is right for your residence.
Uneven Humidity
It’s critical your house’s humidity remains steady. Air that has too much moisture can lead to mold, while dry air can lead to respiratory issues.
Our techs suggest 40–50% for the best comfort. To keep yours even, consider getting a whole-home humidifier or whole-home dehumidifier with your comfort unit.
Rather than having to pull a humidifier from room to room, this equipment provides balanced humidity around your house.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is clear gas you can’t smell. It’s caused by incomplete combustion in fuel-burning appliances, like gas heating systems, water heaters or fireplaces.
It produces a severe health risk. In low concentrations, it can lead to flu-like symptoms like headaches and nausea. It may be deadly in large levels.
We suggest yearly furnace maintenance to ensure your unit is running smoothly. This work allows our pros to see issues before they start, including malfunctions that can create carbon monoxide leaks.
The best method to keep your house free of carbon monoxide is to install detectors. These alarms must be on each floor by bedrooms and living rooms.
Better Your Home’s Air Quality with the Kilbourne Heating & AC Specialists
Informed that your residence has poor air quality but not sure how to improve it? Or unsure which solution is a good fit for you? Give our kind HVAC pros a call at 561-287-7071 or contact us online now. With free estimates and pro service, we’ll help you find the ideal option for your family and budget.